Newly Released Guideline on the Prevention & Treatment of Pressure Ulcers

The latest edition of the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline, released in November 2019, uses the most recent methodological standards in guideline development to assist in prioritizing pressure injury-related interventions.  The Guideline is a collaborative effort from the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP), the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP), the Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance (PPPIA), and 14 additional wound organizations around the world. The resource serves to provide an indication of the confidence one can have that the recommended practices will improve outcomes for patients.

The NPIAP and partner organizations conducted a comprehensive literature review on pressure injury prevention and treatment studies and used a rigorous methodology to appraise the research and make evidence-based recommendations.

Impact of 2019 Bed Linen Guideline

The 2019 Bed Linen Guideline for prevention and treatment of pressure injuries recommends: “Consider using textiles with low-friction coefficients for individuals with or at risk of pressure injuries.”¹

The evidence for the recommendation to consider using a low-friction coefficient textile is primarily based on the results of a wide variety of studies exploring the effectiveness of silk-like fabrics that reduce shear stress, minimize skin irritation, and dries quickly when compared to cotton or cotton-blend fabric. Another study reported that silk-like linens last three times as long as cotton blend sheets.² Additionally, a cost analysis study indicated a cost savings of $3.9 million USD associated with using silk-like fabric.²

FDA cleared, Silk-like Linens to Prevent Pressure Ulcers & Injuries

Our FDA cleared, silk-like DermaTherapy^®  products continue to be an effective and expertly recommended way to prevent and treat pressure injuries. They have been shown to improve treatment for existing skin breakdown by optimizing the microclimate surrounding the patient, keeping their skin cooler decreasing metabolic demand, and reducing bioburden, a potential source of infection, due to its built-in antimicrobial and virtually lint free properties. Additionally, DermaTherapy^® minimizes friction between the fitted sheet and underpad, providing easier patient positioning and less back strain on clinicians.

If you are interested in learning more about our silk-like DermaTherapy^® linens, contact our team today.

Citations
1- Prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers/injuries: clinical practice guideline: The International Guideline 2019 (2019).
2-Freeman R, Smith A, Dickinson S, Tschannen D, James S, Friedman C, Specialty linens and pressure injuries in high-risk patients in the intensive care unit. AM J Crit Care, 2017; 26(6): 474-481.

Please note that NPIAP/EPUAP/PPPIA do not endorse any specific products.